We are delighted to announce that Jacques Gordon has been appointed as the new Director of the Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business. Gordon, who is currently the Senior Executive in Residence at MIT’s Center for Real Estate, replaces Mark Eppli, who stepped down from the director position in August, but will continue teaching for the Wisconsin Real Estate Program.
Jacques Gordon is a distinguished leader in the real estate industry, with an impressive career that includes his 2022 MIT appointment and his role as the Global Head of Research and Strategy for LaSalle Investment Management for almost three decades.At LaSalle, he was responsible for the macro strategy and micro research that informed investment decisions across 30 countries. He also served on the firm’s Management and Investment committees and directed the Investment Strategy Group, which analyzes capital markets, regional economies, and property markets. Although retired from this role, he remains a senior advisor to LaSalle.
Yongheng Deng, Department Chair and John P. Morgridge Distinguished Chair in Business, expressed his excitement for Gordon’s appointment, stating, “I am thrilled to welcome Jacques Gordon to our leadership team. His passion for education and research, combined with his commitment to bridging the real estate industry with the center and the department, perfectly embodies the Wisconsin Idea. Jacques brings a wealth of expertise, strong industry connections, and a leadership style that will engage students, board members, faculty, and alumni. As the center continues to grow and evolve, Jacques’ deep experience will be instrumental in guiding us to new heights of success.”
Throughout his career, Gordon has made significant contributions to the field of real estate. He is the originator of the Jones Lang LaSalle Transparency Index, established in 1999, which has since become the global standard for understanding international real estate. His contributions to real estate research and education have been recognized by the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA), which awarded him the prestigious “Graaskamp Award” in honor of the late Professor James A. Graaskamp.
Gordon’s academic background is equally impressive, holding a PhD (1987) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree (1979) from the London School of Economics, an undergraduate degree (1978) from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a PhD candidate (1981) at UC Berkeley and a Doctoral Fellow (1983-1985) at the Joint Center for Urban Studies Harvard University and MIT. He also shared his extensive experience by teaching at MIT, NYU, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. In addition to his professional and academic accomplishments, Gordon serves multiple boards and is active in many industry organizations.
Gordon shared his enthusiasm for this new role: “As a long-time member of the Midwest real estate community, I have admired the Wisconsin alumni network in Chicago. Over the last 10 years, I have also grown to appreciate the international reputation of Wisconsin’s programs through visits to campus where I met faculty, graduate students, and undergrads. I also saw how Jim Graaskamp’s legacy of a practical, multi-disciplinary approach to real estate is alive and well. In fact, from what I observed, it’s thriving!”
Michael Zelin, President of the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA), said that WREAA is thrilled to welcome Jacques Gordon as the new Graaskamp Center director. He said, “Jacques is an absolute titan in the real estate industry, bringing extensive experience from both the public and private sectors. With a distinguished career marked by significant industry achievements, he is well-equipped to lead the Graaskamp Center into its next chapter. WREAA looks forward to continuing our strong partnership with Jacques and the rest of the Graaskamp Center to support the University of Wisconsin Real Estate Program and carry on the Wisconsin Real Estate tradition.”
Please join us in welcoming Jacques Gordon to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We
are excited about the future of the Graaskamp Center under his direction.
About the Graaskamp Center
With a real estate program ranked consistently as the #1 Real Estate Program by U.S. News and World Report, the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a world-renowned institution that prides itself on academic excellence, a commitment to ethics, and real-world experiences for its students. Established in 1920, the Graaskamp Center was one of the first real estate programs in the nation. Today, the Wisconsin Real Estate Program at the Wisconsin School of Business proudly educates students from all walks of life with its nationally recognized degree programs, including BBA, MS, MBA, Global Real Estate Master and Ph.D.